Acceptance Sampling - Past, Present, and Future

Acceptance sampling procedures can be used as part of the quality system to achieve better quality at lower cost, increased productivity, and improved control. This paper presents an overview of the past, present, and future use of modern acceptance sampling plans, schemes, and systems in applications involving unique lots or a steady flow of product from the producer. Sampling procedures must continually be made to match existing conditions in terms of quajity history and sampling results. In this way they can be used with process control in an evolutionary manner to supplement each other in a continuing approach to quality improvement and elimination of massive inspection programs.